Florida Farm Bureau Announces Staff
Appointments
(GAINESVILLE, Fla.) -- Florida Farm Bureau Federation
President Carl Loop Jr. announced recent federation appointments
designed to assure the organization’s continued success
as the voice of Florida agriculture.
"These adjustments to our leadership team
will help us build upon the positive momentum that we have established
and enhance our ability to serve our members," said Loop.
The appointments, effective immediately, include:
Pat Cockrell
Pat Cockrell has been selected to serve in the
newly created position of Executive Director for Organization
and Programs to coordinate the overall Ag Policy, Field Services
and Public Relations efforts. Cockrell will serve in this new
role to promote the seamless and efficient utilization of staff
and resources for maximum effectiveness.
Cockrell began his career with Florida Farm Bureau
Federation 29 years ago as a Field Services assistant director.
In 1983 he transferred to Commodity Activities as an assistant
director and, following the division’s name change, became
Director of Ag Policy.
“I consider myself a team leader with three
parts to the team, Ag Policy, Field Services and Public Relations,”
Cockrell said. “Ag Policy works with our members to develop
the policies that impact our members in the legislative and
regulatory fields; the field staff are the legs that make our
programs stand in the countryside; and public relations is what
everybody sees, hears and knows about Farm Bureau. All three
are equally important and necessary.”
Kevin Morgan
Kevin Morgan has been promoted to Director of
Ag Policy. Morgan started with Florida Farm Bureau 20 years
ago as program coordinator for the Young Farmer and Rancher
and State Women’s Committee programs. He transferred to
Ag Policy as an assistant director in 1992 and was promoted
to associate director in 1997.
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As director of Ag Policy, Morgan will oversee a staff involved
in the development and implementation of policies, including
both a legislative and regulatory focus at the state and national
levels. His division coordinates the commodity advisory committees
and the national affairs program.
“I’m excited about Farm Bureau and
look forward to leading the Ag Policy Division as we work to
strengthen Florida agriculture,” Morgan said. “Our
primary focus is to implement Farm Bureau policy through the
regulatory and legislative process. Our staff is composed of
dedicated professionals with the knowledge and experience to
assist our members with sound policy activities.”
Ray Crawford
Ray Crawford has been promoted to Director of
Field Services. Crawford began his career with Florida Farm
Bureau Federation 25 years ago as a Field Services assistant
director in South Florida covering Indian River to Dade Counties.
He later transferred to District 5, covering the Central Florida
region.
As director of Field Services, Crawford will coordinate
and supervise the activities of the Federation's Field Staff,
the Young Farmer and Rancher Leadership Program, the State Women's
Committee and Membership.
“I’m looking forward to the new team,
the direction we’re moving in and having the field staff
more visible in the organization,” Crawford said. “The
field staff are the links from our organization to our members
and the county organization. We will build on our counties’
efforts to enhance membership and ag promotion, and empower
the county Farm Bureaus to substantiate the impact agriculture
makes in their respective county.”
Matt Harrison
Matt Harrison has joined the Florida Farm Bureau
Federation as the Environmental Services Coordinator. Harrison
came to Farm Bureau from the Florida Department of Agriculture
and Consumer Services’ Office of Agricultural Water Policy,
where he served as an environmental specialist. Harrison assisted
in the development of the current Ag Water Policy document and
the development of best management practices (BMP) programs.
He also assisted with the Florida Soil and Water Conservation
Council.
In his new position, Harrison will continue to
support the County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship
(CARES) Program developed in the Suwannee River Basin and spread
the program throughout the state.
“Agriculture’s existence is vital
to maintaining Florida’s natural resources,” Harrison
said. “I am excited about the opportunity to make the
public more aware of the environmental benefits they receive
from agriculture in our state.”
Harrison grew up in his family’s cattle
business in DeSoto County. His father, Ken Harrison, is DeSoto
County Farm Bureau president.
The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is the state's largest
general-interest agricultural association with more than 150,000
member-families statewide. There are Farm Bureaus in 62 counties
in Florida, where agriculture comprises a stable, vital leg
of Florida's economy, rivaling the tourism industry in economic
importance. Headquartered in Gainesville, the Federation is
an independent, non-profit agricultural organization and is
not associated with any arm of the government. More information
is available on the organization’s website, http://FloridaFarmBureau.org.
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Florida
Farm Bureau Federation